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S1357..........................................................by EDUCATION
CHARTER SCHOOLS - Amends existing law to revise the per student support
calculation for charter schools.
02/16 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/17 Rpt prt - to Educ
]]]] LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ]]]]
Fifty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session - 2004
IN THE SENATE
SENATE BILL NO. 1357
BY EDUCATION COMMITTEE
1 AN ACT
2 RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS; AMENDING SECTION 33-5208, IDAHO CODE, TO REVISE
3 THE PER STUDENT SUPPORT CALCULATION FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS.
4 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
5 SECTION 1. That Section 33-5208, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
6 amended to read as follows:
7 33-5208. CHARTER SCHOOL FINANCIAL SUPPORT. From the state educational
8 support program the state department of education shall make the following
9 apportionment to each charter school for each fiscal year based on attendance
10 figures submitted in a manner and time as required by the department of educa-
11 tion:
12 (1) Per student support. Computation of support units for each charter
13 school shall be calculated as if it were a separate school according to the
14 schedules in section 33-1002 6., Idaho Code, except that charter schools with
15 fewer than one hundred (100) secondary ADA shall use a divisor of twelve (12)
16 and the minimum units shall not apply within the granting district. Students
17 of the charter school shall not generate more nor fewer units than those
18 allowed by section 33-1002 6., Idaho Code, as calculated for the granting dis-
19 trict. For charter schools existing prior to July 1, 2004, the unit calcula-
20 tion change shall be phased in over three (3) years. For fiscal year 2004-05,
21 units shall be calculated as allowed prior to July 1, 2004, then compared to
22 the unit calculation made as if the charter school were included in the grant-
23 ing district. Fifty percent (50%) of any difference in units will be imposed
24 immediately. In fiscal year 2005-06, the unit difference will be imposed at a
25 rate of seventy-five percent (75%). In fiscal year 2006-07 and thereafter, the
26 unit divisors shall be equal to the granting district. For new charters
27 approved after July 1, 2004, the unit divisors shall be the same as the
28 divisors of the granting district. Funding from the state educational support
29 program shall be equal to the total distribution factor, plus the salary-based
30 apportionment provided in chapter 10, title 33, Idaho Code.
31 (2) Special education. For each student enrolled in the charter school
32 who is entitled to special education services, the state and federal funds
33 from the exceptional child education program for that student that would have
34 been apportioned for that student to the school district in which the charter
35 school is located.
36 (3) Alternative school support. Charter schools may qualify under the
37 provisions of sections 33-1002 and 33-1002C, Idaho Code, provided the charter
38 school meets the necessary statutory requirements, and students qualify for
39 attendance at an alternative school as provided by rule of the state board of
40 education.
41 (4) Transportation support. Support shall be paid to the charter school
42 as provided in chapter 15, title 33, Idaho Code, and section 33-1006, Idaho
43 Code. Each charter school shall furnish the department with an enrollment
2
1 count as of the first Friday in November, of charter school students living
2 more than one and one-half (1 1/2) miles from the school.
3 (5) Payment schedule. The state department of education is authorized to
4 make an advance payment of twenty-five percent (25%) of a charter school's
5 estimated annual apportionment for its first year of operation, and each year
6 thereafter, provided the charter school has an increase of student population
7 in any given year of twenty (20) students or more, to assist the school with
8 initial start-up costs or payroll obligations.
9 (a) For a state charter school to receive the advance payment, the school
10 shall submit its anticipated fall membership for each grade level to the
11 state department of education by June 1.
12 (b) Using the figures provided by the school, the state department of
13 education shall determine an estimated annual apportionment from which the
14 amount of the advance payment shall be calculated. Advance payment shall
15 be made to the school on or after July 1 but no later than July 31.
16 (c) All subsequent payments, taking into account the one-time advance
17 payment made for the first year of operation, shall be made to the charter
18 school in the same manner as other public schools in accordance with the
19 provisions of section 33-1009, Idaho Code.
20 A charter school shall comply with all applicable fiscal requirements of law,
21 except that the following provisions shall not be applicable to charter
22 schools: section 33-1003B, Idaho Code, relating to guaranteed minimum support;
23 that portion of section 33-1004, Idaho Code, relating to reduction of the
24 administrative and instructional staff allowance when there is a discrepancy
25 between the number allowed and the number actually employed; and section
26 33-1004E, Idaho Code, for calculation of district staff indices.
27 (6) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any private
28 person or organization from providing funding or other financial assistance to
29 the establishment or operation of a charter school.
30 (7) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent a charter school from applying
31 for federal grant moneys.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS 14125
Section 33-5208 (1) Currently, charter school state funding is calculated as if
charters are small school districts. This creates a disproportionate per student
funding allowance over other districts. This bill amends existing law to clarify
that charter schools will be funded as if they are a school within the granting
district, providing for equitable funding for all schools.
FISCAL IMPACT
None
Contact
Name: Bob Henry
Phone: 466-2662
Name: Jon Allen
Phone: 468-4600
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE S 1357